A ring route featuring the diverse landscape and culture of Sichuan province opened to traffic on Jan 17. The inaugural flight's passengers received pick-up service at the Guangyuan Panlong Airport.

Government officials and crew members pose for a group photo in front of an A320 aircraft at the Guangyuan Panlong Airport on Jan 17. [Photo provided by Guangyuan Panlong Airport]

During the pick-up ceremony, local government officials offered flowers to and took pictures for the crew members. Later, they introduced Guangyuan's rich tourism resources and preferential policies to the passengers.

The route, operated by Sichuan Airlines, is set to be the first air route that connects the province's cities of Xichang and Guangyuan with Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province. It will be more convenient for tourists and investors to shuttle back and forth.

The A320 aircraft, which is capable of carrying 156 people, will fly four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.